MCD plans to double demolition charges

Thinking of illegally turning your two-bedroom apartment into a three-bedroom one? You might want to reconsider, because the MCD may charge you Rs. 5,200 per hour when it demolishes the unauthorised construction.

Thinking of illegally turning your two-bedroom apartment into a three-bedroom one? You might want to reconsider, because the MCD may charge you Rs. 5,200 per hour when it demolishes the unauthorised construction.

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The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has proposed a hike of 124% in its demolition rates. From the existing Rs. 2,350 per hour that it charges for pulling down illegal structures, the zonal offices are now planning to charge Rs. 5,250 per hour. A proposal has been sent to the building department at the headquarters level for approval.

“Our demolition squad spends hours razing down unauthorised constructions. We also deploy heavy machinery that naturally costs money. We have to hire labour too, which adds to the overall cost,” said a senior MCD official.

Currently, the civic agency charges Rs. 2,350 per hour if demolition is done using hired force, and Rs. 5,250 if MCD staff do the job. The civic agency levies hourly charges that depend on the machinery and manpower used in the demolition exercise.

As the current MCD has been divided into three different corporations — north, south and east — the civic agency claimed that once the proposal was cleared it could be implemented by all three corporations
separately.

In addition to this, to deter people from occupying houses without taking clearance from the MCD, the proposal states that the penalty amount for not having a completion certificate should be increased from Rs. 10 to Rs. 1 lakh.